Health and Human Services approve six health insurance exchanges

Health and Human Services (HHS) granted conditional approval to six states' plans to operate their own health insurance exchange, the New York Times reports.

The six states, all led by Democratic governors, are: Colorado; Connecticut; Maryland; Massachusetts; Oregon; and Washington. HHS officials said 14 states and the District of Columbia have submitted plans to run their own insurance marketplace, adding that the six states approved were the first to submit applications. States face a Friday deadline to declare whether they will run their own health insurance exchange, partner with the federal government or allow the federal government to do it for them. It is possible that the 14 states that have announced their plans will be the only ones running their own exchanges.